Friday, October 28, 2016

Our students had a great time at the Fall Festival last Friday night. The students roasted marshmallows, conversed around a roaring fire, went on a hayride, played cooperative games, ate hot dogs, and took home as many pumpkins as they wanted.

I would like to thank Jean Hasenstab for all her time and hard work in organizing the Fall Festival. I would also like to thank Sheila Buch, Julie Crask, Meghan King, Tony Little, Kristin Runyan, and Nicole Webster for helping at the Fall Festival.

We did not get many photographs, but thanks to Nicole Webster for the awesome photograph of Mr. Little.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

The Whiteside Student Council organized the first Hat Day for the school year. We raised $250.00 for the Make A Wish Foundation. Thanks to our Student Council and Mrs. Mentzer for their work on this important service project.

Monday, October 24, 2016

Our NJHS students got the unique opportunity to go on a field trip to Eagle Crest Adventures in Carlinville, Illinois. The students worked on their team building and leadership skills by participating in low ropes challenges.

Friday, October 21, 2016

Dr. Hamilton was featured in the Illinois State Superintendent's Weekly Address!

Those Who
Excel

Meet
Illinois Teacher of the Year Finalist Candace

Hamilton of Whiteside SD
115 Initially, Candace

Hamilton didn’t seriously
consider teaching as a

profession. Although she
always enjoyed playing

school with her girlfriends
as a child, her parents

encouraged her to dream big
so Candace decided

to become a doctor. She spent
eight years going

to school to learn her chosen
profession of being an

optometrist. She practiced
for two years, but after her

dad passed away she lost her
drive for it and opted to

stay home with her children
while they were young.

Her role as a mom helped
awaken her passion for teaching and she set her sights on becoming the best
teacher she could be! Candace is now in her 12th year of teaching science. The
past eight of those years have been at Whiteside Middle School in Whiteside
School District 115 in Belleville. She earned her National Board certification
in 2012. Her principal says that Candace is an excellent collaborator who is
committed to maintaining a dynamic student-centered learning environment.
Candace is also recognized as an outstanding mentor for other educators and she
frequently presents at Professional Learning Communities meetings. One of
Candace’s colleagues says, “Candace balances professionalism and compassion
with students, parents, and staff. Students are her first priority and she sees
that all of her students succeed.”

Candace has received several
grants that she uses to fund projects like the Children’s Energy Book STEAM
project. During the project, eighth-graders work collaboratively to write and
design a book for younger students to educate them about forms of energy,
energy transformation, and alternative energy resources. The eighth-graders
fully embrace this activity because they really like educating and interacting
with younger students. The project doubles as a service learning project
because the books are ultimately donated to one of two centers in the area that
help children. Candace describes her teaching style like this: “My students are
empowered to learn not only by watching, but by doing and then teaching
others.” Candace is one of our 10 finalists for Illinois Teacher of the Year,
which we will name at the Those Who Excel banquet in Normal on Oct. 22.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

The Whiteside Middle School Broadcasting Club is off to a fabulous start! We were honored last week to have KDSK News Channel 5 Reporter Kiya Edwards at our third meeting. She taught us about her career and gave us valuable information about producing our own newscasts. We are so grateful for the knowledge and expertise that she brought to our new members.

Whiteside Middle School's 7th Annual Family Science and Math Night is on Monday, November 7th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. The events include STEM, Civil Air Patrol Aerodynamic Gliders, Fuzzy Air Traffic Control Towers, Minutes-to-STEM-It, Extreme Choppers, Parachute Float, and Fall Challenge. Please fill out the registration form and return it with $1 per family member to Mrs. Terri by Friday, October 21st. Registration is required. This is not a drop-off and go event. Families must attend with the students. Whiteside Elementary siblings are welcome to attend. Students must be present to win door prizes. I hope to see you at this wonderful STEM event!

The Book Buddies will have their next meeting after school on Monday, October 17th. We are always ready to welcome new members to this organization! If your child is interested in joining this wonderful group, please let Mrs. Pruett or me know.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

The first meeting of the Whiteside Middle School Chess Club will be on Monday, October 17th. Any 6th, 7th, or 8th grader is welcome to participate. Students do not have to know how to play chess in order to be a part of the club. Students can pick up a registration form from Mrs. Penrod.

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

We will have our fist Whiteside Middle School Booster Club meeting on October 13th at 6 pm in the library. All parents are welcome to attend and get involved in this wonderful parent organization. I am looking forward to our first meeting.

Thursday, October 6, 2016

As a faculty and staff on our first institute day, we discussed the qualities of highly effective teachers. We talked about the teachers from our past who made a positive impact on us. At the end of our meeting, we added our fingerprints to the learning tree to remind us that our influences do not fade from the lives we have touched. Our framed artwork is hanging in the main hall by the library. Please check out this beautiful art work the next time you are in our building. I would like to thank Mr. Jaime Cotto, Mrs. Tracy Mentzer, Mrs. Amber Phillips, and Mrs. Schleipman-Burke for their work on this project.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Congratulations to Meghan Tippy-King for receiving the Barack Obama Library Award at the Illinois Reading Council Conference in Peoria. She received a classroom library, valued at $1,000. The collection is comprised of carefully selected literature that is culturally relevant and targets students in the middle school grade range. There was only one winner selected in the state of Illinois and we are very proud that Mrs. King was chosen as the recipient.

Monday, October 3, 2016

On September 24th, our National Junior Honor Society members volunteered at the first annual Belleville Marathon. We received so many positive comments about the work our students did all day for this important service project. They worked at a water station, enthusiastically cheered on the runners, and played their instruments. Thanks to our NJHS members and their sponsors, Mrs. Coates and Mrs. Mertens.